Republicans Poised for Gains in New England

The New England Republican, a rare political breed in recent years, is showing signs of a revival in next week’s elections.

The region’s GOP Senate contingent—now at two—would grow if former Sen. Scott Brown defeats Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, giving the party one of the six seats it would need to reclaim a majority in the chamber.

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Not a single Republican represents a New England state in the House, contributing to the region’s reputation as a bastion of liberalism. But this year, independent analysts say, Republicans have a shot at picking up as many as six seats in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

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Republicans hold one governor’s office in the six New England states—in Maine. That could change, as polls show that the GOP candidate is leading in the Massachusetts governor’s race and that the Connecticut race is a tossup. The region also includes Vermont and Rhode Island.

Nearby in New York, Republicans are running strong in a handful of districts currently held by Democrats.

“It hasn’t been great to be a Republican from New England for a long time, but this year is shaping up to be a lot better,” said former Rep. Charlie Bass (R., N.H.), who held and lost a House seat twice, most recently in 2012.

The potential resurgence of Republicans in the Northeast offers more evidence that the broader political climate this year favors the GOP, with the party likely to expand its majority in the House and potentially wrest control of the Senate.

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